I still remember the night of the school party when she asked me to go out with her. The gentle breeze that evening stroked her long hair. Her hazel eyes shone in the darkness. Her beauty was more captivating than I'd ever seen in any other woman. I took off my coat to cover her, "No, I don't need a jacket. It's not that cold tonight." She said softly, and I saw her smile for the first time.
I stood on the driveway and faked a smile, wishing I could tell her; I don't deserve her. "I know you'll stay up late waiting for me." She broke the silence. "You could leave early. Camila can give me a ride home."
"Nothing makes me happier than spending time with you, kitten." I wasn't sure where those words came from. For the first time, I didn't think before I spoke.
As she walked through the crowd, making her way to the stage. My eyes followed her, but my feet dug into the ground. I was caught up in the moment, watching her stride confidently like a queen, my beautiful queen. When she realized I wasn't following her, she took my hand in her tiny one and pulled me to the front row. She took the trophy in her hand and looked at me. The teacher handed her the microphone to give a short speech in honor of her win. I wouldn't have made it this far without the support of this person. He may not be my parent, but he raised me like I was his. I swear on my heart that he's a good man. I knew he loves me. He'd never hurt me." Her gaze traveled through the crowd and lingered on me, "You don't even know how much it means to me now that you were the first man who really cared about me."
Being the idiot that I was, I built a higher wall around myself. Feelings were a weakness, and I could not allow myself to show weakness to anyone, especially her. Soon she forgot the caring man I used to be and built a monster image of me in her mind. After so many threats and insults, she began to make a way to escape the nightmare I represented to her.
If there was anything I was better at, it was burying emotions and turning them into anger. That was one of the unpleasant factors of being an immortal, as was the pure lust for human blood.
"Let it slide for once, Damien. What could possibly go wrong?" said Nathan beside me, bringing me back to reality. I'd watched Katerina's every move since she met that son of a bitch named Ray. I did a little research to disclose all the nasty things he was hiding from the public.
Nate, Zayn, Sam, and I enjoyed the night in the VIP section of my club. The night went smoothly, and I had no intention of interfering with their fun.
Lately, I have been taking some time for myself. I still had my eyes on the prize, to mark my mate and strengthening my power. But some feelings for her hit me hard when I saw her with someone else. Over the years, she managed to sweep me off my feet to adore her. Unfortunately, there was bad blood between us. I had just realized how deeply I had hurt her with my possessive behavior.
She was happy, full of life, and beautiful. It took everything I had not to rush over and snatch her away from the others. I wanted to hold her in my arms and make out with her on the bar counter. Ray's eyes locked on her heart-shaped butt before he grabbed her to dance with her. I felt my eyes turn blood red. No one had ever driven me as crazy as she did. I never imagined that a mate would make me feel anything again. Jealousy and attraction were feelings I had not felt in centuries.
I received a call from one of my clients. My position as managing director in Judge Legal Consultancy was just another hobby. I bought many properties in LA and invested in dozens of successful projects. A century and a half of life was enough for me to build an empire for the vampires with the help of the Collins, Nate's family. I consider Nathan and my other men as family. I trust them with my life.
I hung up the irritating call to check on Katerina again. She was nowhere to locate at the club. I checked the few minutes that passed during my call. Like an idiot, I watched as he drugged her drink to kidnap her and gain an advantage of her. "We must make haste. That scum drugged Katerina and took her. Nate, take the men and follow him. I'll take care of something and then follow you." I demanded as I took some medication and called the Pickpockets. They are a group of men who get paid to clean up after any vampire attack, and hide all the evidence.
Sam sent their location to me after a few minutes. I stepped on the gas pedal to accelerate and block their path. I watched as their driver tried to avoid us. When he realized it was pointless, he got out to talk, and so did I. His little master followed him a minute later after kissing my mate's forehead in front of me. Kate's eyes sought mine. Her eyes met mine for seconds, then switched to Ray. His smell was unpleasantly familiar to me. He smelled like a werewolf. I tried to stay calm to get more information out of them, but when they refused to talk, my anger took over, and I finished them off and rushed to Kate.
Her fragile body leaned against the car door. I gently left her in my arms to bring her into my car. "They drugged her. We have to hurry. I am taking her to the mansion. Sam, get medical help." I said, laying her body in the back seat. "Zayn, watch the Pickpockets' work and ensure they don't miss anything."
The peaceful expression held my dead heart captive in her beauty. She hated me the most, yet of all people, she trusted me the most to protect her. I remember tears streaming down her face when I said I'll never let her go when all those shadows almost killed your light. I remember she pleaded, don't leave me here alone, a couple of years ago. But all that'd died and gone and passed tonight.
After we'd given Kate medical attention and ensured her safety, Nate showed up in her room. I sat on a stool beside her bed and buried my face in my palms. "You okay, bro?" asked Nathan in a hushed tone.
I looked at him, "I shouldn't have let her go out. I almost lost her!"
"Look, man. I know you're afraid of losing your mate after waiting a whole damn century for her," he sighed deeply, "but you can't just cage her like a bird and expect her to obey you." He was right, though my mind refused to take in anymore. I needed to distract myself from the matter at hand. I'd never been interested in women before. This whole mate thing was new to me. I didn't feel like myself at all.
A few days later, I went to my office to catch up on work. Participating in juries and completing tasks is what I'm good at doing. Dealing with emotions was a weakness of mine. It was better if I avoided them for a while. Sam kept me informed about Katerina's condition.
Video surveillance of my mansion was running on TV in my office. Nate came into my office, holding a stack of papers. "These are the reports you asked for." He trailed off when he saw the screen on the TV. "Can't get her off your head, can you?" He suppressed a giggle. I shook my head while my eyes remained on reading the case in my hand. I can't wait for him to find his mate so I can make him suffer as he did me.
Nathan puffed in boredom. I wasn't the easiest person to provoke, and he knew it. "Are not you going to mark her? I can talk to Dad about the permission letter. Why does he have to formalize the approval for you?" He growled in frustration. The king had noticed some suspicious things lately. He had to be careful who he could trust. Traitors working for the werewolf queen were among us.
"I don't want to rush into anything. Katerina will freak out and make a mess if she finds out the real me," I said, not taking my eyes off the papers. Nate didn't answer, so I looked up. He was surprised by Kate trying to escape through the cloth rope. I called Zayn to close the gates and take her back to her room. Then I went back to my work.
"Oh, no. Damien, you have to see this," said Nathan nervously. I took another look, annoyed by his interruptions.
A maid was about to cut the cord. "Shit," I muttered, running at top speed to the mansion to catch her, not caring about the sun burning my body. It was so fucking painful. Within a few seconds, I'd arrived there. The rope slowly snapped until it dropped Kate's tiny body. It took me no great effort to catch her. "Kate, you're safe. Open your eyes." Please. I said in a soft tone I couldn't recognize. She was changing something in me. I hadn't felt fear in over a century.
She closed her eyes tightly, buried her face in my embrace, and trembled. My hand found its way to her hair and stroked it gently, soothing her. Her body tensed a little at my touch, but somehow it comforted her. She opened her eyes and looked into mine. Thank God I had that stone face that hid all my worries. What bothered me the most was that we had a traitor among us. I had to know for who she was working. Without another word, I brought her to Sam. I wondered why he did not mind watching over her. "I have had enough of her behavior. Throw her in one of the cells in the basement and keep an eye on her." I leashed my temper out on Kate unintentionally.
I went back to my office. Nathan and Liam stared at me in bewilderment, their stares burning a hole in my head. "Trust me, it's the girl who drove him crazy," Nate whispered to Liam.
"I get a hundred bucks that say she isn't the reason for his mood swings," Liam grinned at him.
"Make it two hundred, and you're on." Nate chuckled, thinking he'd win the bet easily.
"How about one of you get Alejandro to talk. I want to learn all he knows about the werewolf royal pack before I visit him tonight," I spoke, not taking my eyes off the screen PC. Every time I look into his golden eyes, I remember what he did to my sister. Melanie was a piece of my soul. She was my only family when I had no one. The last thing I want right now is to lose control and kill him again.
I took a call from Zayn. He had found the maid who had tried to kill Kate. The thought of losing my mate and becoming a recreant clouded my mind. It was pretty close. I threw the file in my hand on the desk. Maybe I should interrogate this bitch and kill her right now. I can't concentrate on anything.
Unfortunately, the five hours of torture didn't bring me any information. The maid didn't know the name or face of the person who paid her to kill Kate. I stabbed her once in the heart and kept the dagger in her. I wanted her to suffer the pain of watching death come closer and closer to her while helpless to do anything about it. "You're such a lucky bitch. The girl you were going to kill asked me to kill you as painlessly as possible. I was planning to put you in a cage full of hyenas."
The devil in me was not satisfied with this. I looked at my watch, and it was a little past midnight. It was time to meet my old friend Alejandro. As I approached the basement entrance, Zayn walked in my direction. He shook his head when I gave him a questioning gaze. So, the recreant wanted to play it the hard way. I continued on my way to his cell. I was going to enjoy this.
After a few hours of torment, I figured he had told us everything he knew. It's crazy how loyal he is to the hunters' coven after all the decades he's been locked up here. His blood was all over the cell. I ordered two men to clean the room. I made my way down the hall, satisfied with the information I had received tonight. Suddenly, I became aware of my surroundings. The tiny figure of Katerina crouched on a filthy bed in the cell next to Al's. "Shit," I muttered, sighing with rage. I had forgotten that I had asked Sam to take her there. She had to be frightened and agitated by the screams of torture. Guilt pricked my dead heart as I looked at her. It made me even more aware of what a cruel beast I was.
I called Sam to take her to her room on the second floor. My head rested on the seat in my office. Nate came to catch up with the news. "Damn, you blew it with her. She'll never trust you if she knows you have this devilish side." The cold tone in which he spoke made me even angrier.
"What do you want me to do, Nate?" I asked him, placing my thumb and forefinger on the bridge of my nose.
"You wouldn't like my plan, but it's the only way to keep your ass from becoming a rejected ass recreant." He sighed, "Double the security and let her wander around the mansion. Once she gets used to the place and gets used to the fact that she's going to live here, try to spend some time with her."
I looked at him, "Do you think that will work? She'll never forget what she heard and saw from me."
As planned by Nathan, I gave her the space and time to adjust. At every step I didn't like, Nate was there to stop me from interfering. Without him, I'd have messed up again and again. Sam went to the library with Kate. I'd no idea how blessed I was with a mate who could sing with such an angelic, soft voice. I wanted to say something, but he silenced me with a gesture. Kate wouldn't be comfortable with my presence, so I left before she could see me. "I must say, she can sing so well. If I tried to sing, the police would come and accuse me of abusing animals." Said Liam as we made our way to my office.
Katerina seemed comfortable with the new permissions. She knew how to keep herself busy and out of trouble for a week. I was surprised at this change, but Nate told me she feared what I'd do to her the next time she tried to break my rules.
It didn't take too long. Kate started sneaking off to talk to Alejandro in the basement cell. I didn't even mind when she stole my clothes so he could change. She'd a good heart and felt sympathy for him, something I'd forgotten what it meant. Though, I felt something else about it. Perhaps it was a fit of jealousy. I couldn't understand myself or realize how I felt about this little human in my life. Every single step she takes touches me in a way.
It was hard for me to keep myself from running after her and frightening her, lest she should see him again. Nate was watching my every move closely. I wasn't sure what he was going to do next. He kept it to himself since I probably wouldn't approve if I knew. "He's fucking holding her face, Nate. What the fuck is wrong with you? I can't watch him touch my mate and do nothing!" I yelled. Sam and Liam stopped me from storming into the basement and killing Alejandro.
They held me in a tight grip and tried to reason with me. There was no way I would persuade. Let the next three days be over, and I will erase Al from existence. I locked myself in the office to keep from rushing into Kate's room. I was an erupting volcano. My eyes turned bright red, and I was unable to return them to their normal state.
I could hear the men talking behind my office door as they approached. Liam was shocked at my reaction to Kate and Al sharing their feelings. I'd always pretended not to give a damn about her as long as she was safe. They thought it was all about the recreant risk. I've never believed that mates could bond, even though I'd seen that most of them did. I guess I'd gotten mine too, and that drove me crazy. Jealousy always got the best of me when she was around men. I realized that Nate was either trying to figure this out, or he already knew and was trying to help me express it.
"Hey, man. I know how hard it feels. Just admit it; you like Kate. Stop with the mixed signals and try to win her heart. You need her as much as she needs you." said Nathan as he walked into my office.
"Look, I don't want to frustrate you, but I keep making the same mistakes because I suck at love," I said in defeat. For decades I'd avoided showing emotion, but now I could no longer hide or deny my jealousy.
Nathan made his way out without saying anything else, for which I was grateful. I sat down on my desk and propped my forehead on my palms. I closed my eyes and tried to ignore the conversation behind the door. "Aren't you going to help him? You can't leave him like this. I swear I've never seen him so devastated as he's right now." Liam said worriedly.
"Occasionally, the best thing you can do is learn to let your friend figure things out for himself. The pain can be a valuable lesson sometimes," Nathan said in a subtle tone and walked away.
The next night, the CCTV screen showed a glimpse of a person walking through the hallways. Immediately I dropped the work in my hands and looked at the records. It was Katerina, as I'd expected. She never knows when to stop pushing my patience to the limit. I watched her as she entered the refrigerator holding one of the blood bags. Wondering what she was up to, I followed her through the cameras until she reached the basement door.
Shit. Alejandro had manipulated her into bringing him some blood. I rushed out of the office and ran after her at top speed. She was standing in front of the cell bars, looking at him. For a moment it occurred to me that she'd never stand so close to me on her own. She hated me with all her heart, and I couldn't blame her. Heck, I don't even feel guilty about it. "Get away from him!" I yelled at her, yanking her away from him by the arm. The fear was evident in her eyes. I was late. Alejandro didn't wait for a second and drained the bag of blood.
His eyes shone in furious gold, seeking vengeance. He took a grip of the bars, and unbolted his cage, breaking free. I pushed Kate aside before he could throw the bars at me. My body hit the brick wall, and tore a hole. The wall hit my spine so hard. I was a fast healer, so I didn't care. By the time I managed to get back up, Alejandro had captured Kate and was holding her by the neck. He was choking her, but why did I feel like my throat was blocked too. It wasn't fear. I didn't feel anything at all. It was the mate bond.
"If you want your little mate to stay alive, tell your men to clear a path to the entrance. If any of them get in my way, I promise I'll rip her pretty little head off," he threatened. It's funny how karma knocks you back in the worst ways possible.
He tightened his grip around her neck, "Alejandro, please," she pleaded in pain. At her words, he loosened his grip a little. The bastard had feelings for her all along. Disappointment clouded my vision. The recreant was able to feel things and express it more than I did. I gestured to Sam, who nodded to Alejandro to follow him. He left me in his arms and ran rapidly, afraid I would follow him.